Ring Of Honor
Date: December 18, 2025
Location: Utilita Arena Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re in the UK so it’s time for Global Wars, meaning Ring Of Honor vs. wrestlers from the international location. That could make for some interesting stuff, though it’s basically what we’ve been seeing on Dark and the other AEW shows since they’ve been in the UK. There are some rather talented UK wrestlers out there so hopefully most of them come in here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Michael Oku vs. Rocky Romero

Amira Blair is here with Oku. Romero shoves him away to start but can’t get a song from the fans. A running hurricanrana and dropkick have Romero down but Romero goes after the arm. Oku is sent outside to stay on the arm and a double stomp gives Romero two back inside. The Forever Lariats are cut off with a dropkick though and Oku grabs a DDT for two.

It’s way too early for Oku’s half crab or Lionsault so he triangle dropkicks Romero to the floor. The running flip dive takes Romero out again and they both go up top, where Oku wins a slugout. Romero is able to crotch him on top though and it’s a butterfly superplex into a cross armbreaker. Oku switches that into a half crab, which is reversed as well, meaning Oku goes with a jumping knee. The half crab goes on again and Romero taps at 9:46.

Rating: C+. I still don’t get the massive appeal of Oku and I don’t get the appeal of Romero in the slightest. Oku is by far the more interesting and smoother of the two in the ring though and the fans were way behind him here. That made for a nice opener and the match was a nice mixture of technical wrestling and high flying.

Evil Uno vs. Mark Davis

Davis chops away to start and Uno gets fired up. He also gets dropped with a running shoulder and they go outside, where Davis’ chop hits chair. Back in and Uno fires off his own chops but gets German suplexed. The chinlock goes on for a bit, only for Uno’s DDT to connect for two. Uno’s Swanton gets two but Davis catches him with an enziguri. A running lariat finishes Uno at 6:36.

Rating: C-. This was as Ring Of Honor of a match as you could get, as Uno and Davis are the definitions of “these guys are still under contract?”. The match was fine enough, but this felt like it should have been the opener of a boring house show. These guys are ok in stables or on a team, but seeing them in a singles match is quite the stretch.

Video on Athena and Billie Starkz and their recent issues.

Madison Rayne thinks she still has something to give. She’s coming for Athena and Diamante.

Nina Samuels vs. Alex Windsor

Windsor takes her over with a headlock to start before working on the arm. Samuels can’t roll her way out and gets sent outside for a dive off the apron. Back in and Samuels kicks her in the head and stomps away, meaning it’s time to rake the eyes. Samuels pulls on the arms in the ropes and we hit the chinlock.

Windsor fights up with some clotheslines and something like a Blue Thunder Bomb gets two. An ax kick gives Samuels two of her own and she forearms Windsor down. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker drops Windsor again but she’s back with a hard clothesline to give us a double breather. Windsor is back with a twisting superplex into a Sharpshooter to make Samuels tap at 8:29.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to have Windsor back as she’s one of the better stars to be added to the women’s division in a bit. It wouldn’t surprise me to see her answer Mercedes Mone’s challenge for the Rev Pro Women’s Title on Collision. Samuels is someone who has done well in almost every promotion I’ve seen her in, though she doesn’t seen to stick for some reason.

Lee Johnson vs. Lio Rush

Rush starts fast and sends him outside, where Blake Christian cuts off a dive. Back in and Johnson avoids a cutter but gets sent outside again, this time for a heck of a suicide dive. Christian offers another distraction though and Johnson grabs a side slam for two. Rush manages a spinning DDT though and starts hammering away. Now the cutter can connect, followed by a spinning kick to the head for two. Johnson avoids a charge in the corner though and grabs a snap suplex. Rush fights back but has to deal with Christian, allowing Johnson to roll him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 6:57.

Rating: C+. Another nice match here with both of them moving rather fast. Johnson relying on Christian to win is a fine way to go, but at the same time, get them in the Tag Team Title picture already. Either that or have Christian get his singles match for the World Title already, which is far from a bad idea.

Post match Christian brags about how the Swirl started this show but the World Champion isn’t here. Christian snapped Bandido’s arm and put him on the shelf at Final Battle so come get your arm snapped now.

Blake Christian vs. Angelico

Serpentico is here with Angelico. They trade takedowns to start with Angelico grabbing an armbar. Back up with Christian gets in his own takedown into a Jay Lethal strut. Angelico is sent outside for a spinning suicide dive before Christian goes after the arm. Angelico’s clothesline and kick to the head get two, followed by a spinning Downward Spiral for two. A Spanish Fly gives Christian two of his own and it’s a Lethal Injection to finish Angelico at 6:43.

Rating: C. Angelico is becoming the definition of someone who is just there too. You know the match you’re going to get from him and he doesn’t win any matches. That makes it a bit tedious to see him announced, as there’s no drama or surprise with him. Christian continues to grow on me, and at least they didn’t have this go too long.

Post match Christian goes after Angelico again and Serpentico gets taken out as well.

Session Moth Martina vs. Red Velvet

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Martina wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, she gets a future TV Title shot. Martina (who is basically a walking party) gets Velvet to dance to start and they trade headlocks. Velvet gets two off a leg lariat but Martina is back up with a dropkick. A spinning suplex gives Martina two more and they go to the corner, where an Iconoclasm pulls Martina down for two. Velvet kicks her down and hits Straight Out Your Mama’s Kitchen for the pin at 3:58.

Rating: C. Martina is often a lot of fun and one of the most entertaining people you’ll see on a show, but she didn’t get to showcase that here. It made for a less than interesting match, as they were in and out of there so fast. Velvet getting a mostly dominant win isn’t a bad idea at all though as she’s been doing rather well since she came back.

Wheeler Yuta vs. ???

It’s an open challenge and it’s Nigel McGuinness accepting. McGuinness says that Yuta ended Bryan Danielson’s career and that killed the Batman to McGuinness’ Joker, so it’s time for revenge. That….oddly makes sense. Slightly less sense? Someone answering an open challenge having an announced weight. They fight over wrist control to start before Yuta avoids a rebound lariat. A LeBell Lock is quickly escaped and Yuta wrestles him down, only to get stomped on the arm.

McGuinness takes him down by the arm and leans back on it (ouch) but Yuta is back up with a running dropkick. Cattle Mutilation has McGuinness in more trouble but he slips out and hits a running uppercut in the corner. Yuta’s running knee is cut off with a hard clothesline but the London Dungeon is escaped. They trade crossfaces until Yuta uses the ropes to escape, only to get blasted by a clothesline to give McGuinness the win at 10:48.

Rating: B-. This wasn’t a classic match, but it was more than good enough. At the same time though, this was a great idea for a main event as McGuinness is not only a legend, but a national star for England. It felt like a special treat and that’s a smart way to go to wrap up the show. McGuinness can more than still go in the ring and beating up Yuta is always fun to see.

Overall Rating: C+. The best thing about this show was that it felt different from the usual dull Ring Of Honor show. It had a hot crowd and a theme to the show which made it feel more interesting. While the action wasn’t exactly great, I’ll take something like this over the same stuff that we get time after time. It might not have been a great show, but the main event was fun and the whole thing worked well enough.

Results
Michael Oku b. Rocky Romero – Half crab
Mark Davis b. Evil Uno – Clothesline
Alex Windsor b. Nina Samuels – Sharpshooter
Lee Johnson b. Lio Rush – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Blake Christian b. Angelico – Lethal Injection
Red Velvet b. Session Moth Martina – Straight Out Your Mama’s Kitchen
Nigel McGuinness b. Wheeler Yuta – Lariat

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Progress Chapter 179: Las Vegas
Date: April 18, 2025
Location: Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Jack Farmer, Rich Bocchini, Veda Scott

We’re back to Progress again as they are invading Wrestlemania Weekend for at least the second year in a row. This is the British promotion which has been around for quite a good while but might not be as great as it once was. I had a good time at least year’s show though and hopefully they can replicate that here. Let’s get to it.

Note that I do not follow Progress so I apologize in advance for any plot or character points I might miss.

Opening sequence.

Lykos Gym vs. Boisterous Behavior

That would be Kid Lykos/Kid Lykos II vs. Leon Slater/Man Like DeReiss as commentary spends the introductions talking about how tired both the wrestlers/commentary teams are. Lykos II takes Slater into the corner to start but gets grabbed by the throat for his efforts. That’s broken up and Lykos comes in for his brainbuster. I know this because he shouts BRAINBUSTER, with commentary implying that it never works when he shouts like that.

DeReiss comes in and runs Lykos over to get him into the corner, meaning choking can ensue. The chinlock goes on and DeReiss puts Lykos down for two more. Lykos gets in a jawbreaker but gets pulled into something like a powerbomb. Instead of planting him though, DeReiss brings in Slater for a stomp and then just drops Lykos. Weird move. Anyway, Lykos flips over Slater out of the corner and rolls over to bring in Lykos II. Everything breaks down and Slater gives Lykos II a Lethal Combination.

Lykos II Is right back with Lo Mein Pain for two and a double kick in the corner rocks Slater again. DeReiss has to spear Lykos II into the cover for the save (that looked good) and everyone is down for a bit. DeReiss breaks up the double brainbuster and Behavior hit stereo running kicks in the corner. Lykos II gets his knees up to block DeReiss’ 450 and the super brainbuster brings Slater down in a big crash. Lykos II’s brainbuster finishes Slater at 11:23.

Rating: B-. Perfectly nice start to the show here with the Gym being a good example of what happens around here. I’m not sure I get the appeal of either Lykos but they had a nice match here, with Boisterous Behavior being solid opponents. As usual, a tag match is a good way to open a show and it worked well here.

WXW Unified World Title: 1 Called Manders vs. Marcus Mathers vs. Tate Mayfairs

Manders is defending. Mayfairs and Manders stare each other down so Mathers grabs a headlock on the Manders, which doesn’t go that well. A neckbreaker drops Manders and he rolls outside, leaving Mayfairs to take over on Mathers. Back in and Manders chops away at Mayfairs before planting Mathers as well.

Manders’ elbows miss though and he falls out to the floor, with Mathers Blue Thunder Bombing Mayfairs for two. Mayfairs drops Manders again and hits a top rope elbow for two, with Mathers making the save. Mathers cutters Mayfairs and flip dives onto Manders on the floor. Back in and Manders blasts Mathers with the lariat to retain at 8:22.

Rating: B-. Better stuff here with Manders getting to do his power stuff and fighting off the other two. Manders isn’t someone who does anything groundbreaking but he does the old cowboy style well enough that it’s rather effective. Mathers and Mayfairs were fine challengers here and all three interacted well enough.

Mike D. Vecchio vs. Kuro

Kuro knocks him to the floor to start and hits an early suicide dive before knocking Vecchio into the crowd. They go inside for some running boots to Vecchio in the corner but Vecchio kicks him down. Vecchio goes outside and catches a running flip dive (dang) for a powerbomb onto the apron. A hard forearm to the back has Kuro in more trouble, followed by a running big boot back inside. Vecchio throws him down again and hits a gutwrench helicopter bomb for the win at 7:14.

Rating: C. I’ve only seen a bit of Vecchio but his look alone is going to get him some shots. Hopefully he can get the experience and in-ring skills to back it up because that could make him quite the prospect. It was just a step above a squash, but I can go for seeing a possible star on the bigger stage.

Respect is shown post match.

Women’s Title: Vert Vixen vs. Rhio vs. Nina Samuels

Samuels is defending. Rhio wastes no time in running Vixen over for two, with Samuels hiding on the floor. They all head outside with Rhio taking over, setting up an Irish Curse to Vixen back inside. Samuels makes the save and tries to team up with Vixen, earning herself a headlock. Vixen knocks her down for two but Rhio is in for some standing switches.

Samuels knocks Vixen to the floor before sending both of them into the corner for the running knees to the back. With Vixen in trouble, Rhio is back in with a double dropkick to both of them to take over. A fisherman’s neckbreaker puts Vixen down and Samuels gets dropped as well. Vixen is back up to knock Rhio down and the Blue Thunder Bomb gets two on Samuels.

The Game Over brainbuster gives Vixen two on Samuels with Rhio making another save. Samuels rolls Rhio up for two, even with a handful of trunks. Rhio package piledrives Samuels but Vixen pulls the referee out at two. Vixen posts Rhio but Samuels pulls her down by the hair. A powerbomb spun into a knee to the face lets Samuels retain the title at 11:44.

Rating: B-. Rhio and Vixen felt like the big grudge here and it felt like a feud that could have some legs. At the same time you had Samuels, who was in over her head but was smart enough to come in and steal some shots here and there. Having Samuels win clean in the end was a surprise, but they made it work here.

Post match Rhio package piledrives Vixen to leave her laying. That sounds rematchish.

Proteus Title: Paul Walter Hauser vs. Adam Priest vs. Charles Crowley vs. Effy vs. Simon Miller

Miller is defending and this is one fall to a finish. Hauser is better known as an Emmy Award winning actor who happens to be a huge wrestling fan. Hold on though as Crowley grabs his helmet and reaches in to pull out…a fist to punch a bunch of people. Miller knocks Crowley outside but gets caught by Effy’s atomic drop.

Effy ties Priest up in the ropes with something like a Tarantula but Crowley makes the save with a discus forearm. Hauser is up with a running flip dive off the apron, leaving Miller to hit a suicide dive onto the pile. Back in and Crowley hits a springboard cutter for two on Miller but Hauser comes in for the save. A Russian legsweep drops Effy and a middle rope headbutt gets two. Hold on though as Effy goes after Hauser’s nipples but they don’t seem to feel pain.

Effy knocks him down and hits some running seated sentons, only for a third to hit raised knees. Back in and Priest piledrives Hauser for two but Crowley clears Priest out again. Effy gives Crowley and Miller a double noggin knocker before a legdrop gets two on Miller. Back up and Miller’s spear hits Effy but Crowley comes in to mist Miller down. Hauser is up with a pop up Samoan drop to Crowley, only for Priest to hit Hauser with a chair. Priest loads up something but Hauser hits a hammerlock Downward Spiral onto the chair to pin Priest for the title at 8:48.

Rating: C+. Well. Why not? Hauser is someone who has clearly found something he loves in wrestling and is putting in the effort to turn this into something. It’s not like he’s headlining Wrestlemania or anything and this might get Progress some much needed attention. He basically won the title on a fluke and will get to hold it until they’re ready for a big deal to take it from him. It’s a nice little headline and that’s all it needed to be.

Hauser is stunned as he gets the title and poses for a bit.

Minoru Suzuki vs. Cara Noir

Somehow, I have never actually seen a Noir match. Suzuki gets the MURDER GRANDPA chant and kicks at the legs a bit before going after an armbar. Noir spins out of a headscissors and gets up so they can slowly trade chops. Suzuki pulls him down into a Fujiwara armbar and twists the fingers around.

That’s broken up and they go to the apron to slug it out, only for Suzuki to pull him into another armbar. They go outside where Noir’s arm is sent into the post, meaning it’s time for more finger twisting. Another slugout goes to Suzuki and it’s time for a seated armbar back inside. Suzuki switches over to a half crab, followed by a quickly broken ankle lock.

Noir kicks away, including a sliding kick to the face, only for Suzuki to kick him down again. They chop and forearm it out again until one big forearm puts Noir down. Back up and Noir hits an enziguri into a rear naked choke…and Suzuki flips him forward, with Noir landing ON HIS HEAD. Suzuki grabs a choke and finishes with the Gotch style piledriver at 13:34.

Rating: D+. For months, all I’ve heard about Noir is that no one wrestles like him and he can do all kinds of impressive things. All I saw here was Suzuki doing his thing and dominating Noir, who was mostly just trying to do the same thing Suzuki was doing. This didn’t show me a thing about Noir but rather that Suzuki is going to have his match and nothing else.

Progress World Title: Luke Jacobs vs. Michael Oku

Oku, with Amira, is challenging. They slug it out at the bell with Jacobs getting the better of things until a hurricanrana sends him outside. The big flip dive takes Jacobs down again but he catches another one to send Oku onto the apron. Back in and Jacobs slowly hammers away, setting up a slam to keep Oku in trouble. The crossface shots to the jaw rock Oku, who manages to come back with a missile dropkick.

A pair of DDTs gives Oku two and we slow down a bit. The half crab is broken up and Jacobs forearms the heck out of him. That just earns Jacobs an enziguri so he smashes Oku with a lariat. They go to the stage where Jacobs hits a suplex but stops to argue with Amira. That’s enough of a distraction for Oku to get a running start and hit a hue dive to drop Jacobs.

Back in and a frog splash gets two but Jacobs lariats him into a pop up powerbomb for two. The mostly out of it Oku is put on the top for a superplex, followed by a German suplex to drop Oku again. Somehow Oku is fine enough to grab a half crab, which is broken up as well so Oku blasts him with a superkick.

The frog splash sets up another half crab, with Jacobs doing a rather dramatic crawl over to the ropes. Jacobs is back up and gets taken down by a clothesline but is still able to uppercut him out of the air. A lariat gives Jacobs one, followed by another for the pin to retain at 17:08.

Rating: B. These guys told a good story out there and Jacobs got to beat a big name clean in the middle of the ring. Oku is someone who has built up a nice reputation so beating him is a nice moment for Jacobs. He’s been champion for almost a year now and there is a good chance that he’ll hold it for a few more months at least. This was a good win on a fairly big stage and that should be a nice boost for Jacobs. He doesn’t have the deepest style as he’s mainly just a powerhouse, but it still works.

Overall Rating: C+. This was just ok for the most part with only the main event really coming close to standing out. Hauser’s title win will get some attention and that’s a good move for the promotion. Other than that, pretty much nothing stands out on here and for a show where they had a different and enthusiastic audience, that isn’t the best sign. Not a bad show, but not the most thrilling effort.

Results
Lykos Gym b. Boisterous Behavior – Brainbuster to Slater
1 Called Manders b. Tate Mayfairs and Marcus Mathers – Lariat to Mathers
Mike D. Vecchio b. Kuro – Gutwrench helicopter bomb
Nina Samuels b. Rhio and Vert Vixen – Spinning knee to Vixen’s face
Paul Walter Hauser b. Adam Priest, Effy, Simon Miller and Charles Crowley – Hammerlock Downard Spiral onto a chair to Priest
Minoru Suzuki b. Cara Noir – Gotch style piledriver
Luke Jacobs b. Michael Oku – Lariat

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Collision
Date: August 24, 2024
Location: Utilita Arena, Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the European debut for the show and that means we should be in for some good stuff. At the same time, it’s the day before All In and even though most of the card is set, there is still a spot to be filled in the four team ladder match for the Trios Titles. Throw in the final push towards the show and we could be in for a good one here. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Conglomeration vs. Undisputed Kingdom

Tomohiro Ishii is on commentary. Briscoe and Bennett start things off by trading chops before it’s off to O’Reilly for a kick to the face. O’Reilly and Strong strike it out with O’Reilly getting the better of it again, meaning it’s off to Taven so O’Reilly can beat up two people at once. Cassidy comes in for the lazy kicks and a double hurricanrana to the Kingdom, followed by a toss into a tornado DDT to Bennett.

Back up and Bennett’s Hail Mary is blocked but Cassidy gets sent into the corner to put him in trouble for a change. That doesn’t last long as Cassidy escapes a sunset flip and hands it off to Briscoe as everything breaks down. Cassidy dives onto Strong but Taven dives onto both of them. Bennett moves the chair to prevent Briscoe’s dive but puts it back so Strong can slam Briscoe onto it. We take a break and come back with Briscoe in trouble and Strong mocking the hands in the pockets, which draws in an irate (well as irate as he gets) Cassidy.

Not that it matters as Briscoe gets over for the tag off to O’Reilly, who gets to wreck the whole team at once again. Bennett’s leg gets dragon screwed over the ropes and it’s the Froggy Boy into the lazy elbow for two with Taven making the save. Everything breaks down again and Bennett Death Valley Drivers O’Reilly for two.

A Rock Bottom backbreaker gives Strong two on O’Reilly but the Conglomeration all grab stereo holds. Those are broken up at the same time and everyone is down in a heap. Strong backbreaker O’Reilly but gets caught with Cassidy’s top rope DDT. NOW Briscoe can get the chair and there’s the big step up dive onto the pile at ringside. O’Reilly guillotines Taven for the win at 15:23.

Rating: B+. This was a blast with everyone doing a bunch of stuff, but O’Reilly was the absolute star. He wrecked the villains multiple times and felt almost unstoppable, which is quite the performance. I’m not sure how much of a preview this was for the Casino Gauntlet, but I had a really good time with this as they got a lot into and out of the opener. This doesn’t include Ishii, who didn’t say a word as far as I could tell. He did however sneer a lot, as is his custom.

Video on the Trios Title situation, which naturally set up a four team ladder match for the titles, even though the story had been about three teams and one more is being added for the sole purpose of putting more people in the match.

Willow Nightingale vs. Harley Cameron

Ishii is still on commentary as Cameron chokes (and screams) in the corner to start. Nightingale fights out of that and hits a running shoulder in the corner, followed by some rapid fire clotheslines. A Russian legsweep gives Cameron two and an elbow to the face is good for the same. Eat Defeat and a running knee give Cameron two more and she drives some elbows into the neck. Nightingale gets fired up and hits a quick Babe With The Powerbomb for the pin (it’s as sudden as it sounds) for the pin at 4:11.

Rating: C+. Cameron got to do some stuff here but this was about getting Nightingale ready for her tag match tomorrow. There’s nothing wrong with giving her a nice boost like this and the match didn’t overstay its welcome. I could see Cameron eventually evolving into a bigger deal, but she’s not there yet.

Private Party are the official emcees for All In. I have no idea why that is necessary.

Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara issue an open challenge for All In. They’re also bringing the Von Erichs and Katsuyori Shibata. I have no idea why that is necessary.

Jay Lethal vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Both of their usual friends are here too. They fight over arm control to start and Lethal has to go to the ropes for the early clean break. Back up and Shibata goes right back to the arm, only to get taken down for the basement dropkick. Lethal starts going for the leg but the Figure Four is broken up, allowing Shibata to go right back to the arm.

We take a break and come back with Lethal putting on a Figure Four, sending Shibata to the ropes this time. The Lethal Combination drops Shibata again but Hail To The King is countered into a quickly broken cross armbreaker. Back up and Shibata suplexes him for two and it’s time to strike it out. Shibata grabs the claw (as taught to him by the Von Erichs) and pulls him into the cross armbreaker for the win at 9:49.

Rating: B-. This is one of those matches was going to work because of who was involved and that is a nice thing to see. Lethal is someone else who can be put out there with anyone for at least a passable match. If you put someone as good as Shibata in there with him, it wound up being all the better for a nice TV match.

Post match everyone else gets in and Shibata offers Lethal a handshake, which he eventually accepts.

Video on Will Osprey vs. MJF.

We go to Create A Pro Wrestling Academy where Kris Statlander trains Stokely Hathaway, who does surprisingly well.

Stokely Hathaway/Kris Statlander vs. Nina Samuels/Kid Lykos 2

Statlander runs them both over to start and gives Lykos a Babe With The Powerbomb. Hathaway gets dropped onto Lykos for the pin at 58 seconds.

Post match Hathaway calls that a preview for tomorrow at All In.

Ben Mankiewicz narrates a video on Toni Storm vs. Mariah May, explaining May being something of an understudy who was never quite accepted. Then May won the Owen Hart Tournament and attacked Storm, setting up the personal title match.

Hook vs. Big Bill

Chris Jericho and Bryan Keith here with Bill and the fans don’t seem overly thrilled with Hook. Jericho even joins commentary as Bill throws him out on the corner to take over fast. Hook gets beaten down into the corner and Bill goes after the bandaged eye. A big boot sends Hook to the floor and we take a break. Back with the fans going a bit nuts over Bill, who grabs a bearhug.

With that broken up, Bill hammers away and the fans start slapping the barricade so loudly that I thought it was someone’s music in a run-in. Hook fights up and low bridges him to the floor before hammering away in the corner. A northern lights suplex drops Bill but he grabs a Hook by the throat (to a MONSTER reaction). That’s broken up but Hook slaps on Redrum out of the corner for the tap at 10:47.

Rating: C+. The match itself was just kind of there, but this was ALL about the absolutely incredible reaction to Bill. It must be one of those things where a wrestler can be over in a certain place and it would suggest that Bill should move to Wales as soon as possible. That was one of the most ridiculously positive receptions I’ve ever seen and it was a sight to behold.

Video on Jack Perry vs. Darby Allin for the TNT Title.

We look at the Bryan Danielson/Swerve Strickland showdown from Dynamite, with Danielson dropping Strickland to end the show.

Ariya Daivari vs. Jeff Jarrett

Karen Jarrett is here with Jeff. The fans sing for Jeff to get things even more hyped up, meaning the pose off is rather one sided. Daivari knocks him down and does the Fargo Strut before hitting a running shoulder. Back up and a hiptoss lets Daivari strut for the third time but Jarrett sends him hard into the buckle. Jarrett knocks him to the floor and teases a strut of his own (BIG pop) and we take a break.

We come back with the fight on the floor and Jarrett sending him into various hard objects. They do Jarrett’s signature sleeper exchange sequence until Jarrett rams him into the corner to break it up. A Russian legsweep gives Jarrett two and an enziguri sets up the running crotch attack against the ropes. NOW we get the real strut, with the fans coming to their feet in a cool moment. The Figure Four is blocked but Jarrett hits the Stroke for the pin at 9:54.

Rating: C+. This was similar to the previous match as the wrestling was just ok, but the fans carried this to a much more entertaining level. The fans were absolutely insane for Jarrett here and the reaction to the Stroke was great. I’m not a big Jarrett fan but he clearly loved this, as he did his basic stuff but the fans were way into it, mainly due to him being an actual legend. This was a lot of fun.

Video on Hologram.

All In rundown, with the Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara challenge now a ten man tag, because of course it is.

Lio Rush/Top Flight vs. Pac/Blackpool Combat Club

For the final spot in the four way ladder match for the Trios Titles at All In. Darius grabs a cravate on Yuta to start but gets pulled into a quickly broken bow and arrow. Back up and a dropkick staggers Yuta and it’s off to Pac, who misses a charge at Dante. Pac gets in his own flips as well so it’s off to Rush vs. Castagnoli. Rush tries his own Swing, which is broken up just as quickly and Castagnoli gets triple teamed down into the corner.

We take a break and come back with Yuta in control on Darius and knocking Top Flight off the apron. Darius fights up and hands it back to Dante to pick up the pace, including some kicks to the head. Rush adds a bottom rope Asai moonsault to Pac for two back inside as commentary just kind of stops for a few seconds. Yuta grabs a nasty German suplex on Dante and Rush kicks Castagnoli in the head. Pac is back up with an overhead German suplex to Rush but a series of splashes hit Pac for two. Dante hits a dive but Castagnoli cuts off one from Rush, setting up the Black Arrow to give Pac the pin at 12:58.

Rating: B. This was another action packed match and that’s all it needed to be. While I could go for a regular team being in the ladder match (or the ladder match not having four teams, or ladders for that matter), I do like getting some of these people on the show. At least they got there after very fast paced match as well.

Post match here is Christian Cage, with Mother Wayne, to mock the Welsh fans’ accents. The distraction lets the Patriarchy come in with chairs for the beatdown, only for the Bang Bang Gang to come in and whip out some tables. Then the lights go out and the House Of Black come in, leaving all nine of the challengers to brawl while the Patriarchy leaves. Sweet goodness that is a lot of people for one ladder match.

Overall Rating: B. The opener and main event were both pretty great, with the rest of the matches being forgettable….at least on their own. What mattered here was a white hot crowd, as they were carrying everything up more than a few levels. They drew me way into this show and I was more interesting than I would have been based on what I was getting from what AEW was doing. Not a great show, but one that was a really good time to watch.

Results
Conglomeration b. Undisputed Kingdom – Guillotine choke to Taven
Willow Nightingale b. Harley Cameron – Babe With The Powerbomb
Katsuyori Shibata b. Jay Lethal – Cross armbreaker
Stokely Hathaway/Kris Statlander b. Nina Samuels/Kid Lykos 2 – Splash to Lykos
Hook b. Big Bill – Redrum
Jeff Jarrett b. Ariya Daivari – Stroke
Pac/Blackpool Combat Club b. Lio Rush/Top Flight – Black Arrow to Rush

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NXT UK
Date: August 18, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

Then everything changed, as WWE has confirmed that NXT UK will be going on hiatus after three more shows, with NXT Europe taking its place. Granted that isn’t much of a surprise as several NXT UK stars popped up this week on NXT, along with the whole spoiling the winner of the United Kingdom Title tournament. As for this week, more first round matches in the United Kingdom Title tournament. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round: Joe Coffey vs. Mark Andrews

Coffey shoulders him down to start so Andrews tries a headlock. That works about as well, as Coffey powers him into the corner a few times, setting up a backbreaker. We hit the half nelson of all things to keep Andrews down but he’s back up with some dropkicks to the chest/leg. Andrews gets rocked by a headbutt but manages to come back with a flying forearm.

Coffey gets knocked to the apron where he winds up hanging upside down by his feet for a good visual. Back in and a high crossbody gives Andrews two but Coffey snaps off an overhead belly to belly for two. Coffey knocks him hard into the corner and it’s All The Best For The Bells to get rid of Andrews at 7:40.

Rating: C+. As has been the case for pretty much the entire history of wrestling, power vs. speed continues to work. There is almost no way to screw up such a basic formula and they did it well here. Andrews is good at playing the sympathetic face in peril and Coffey is big enough to hit people really hard. Solid opener.

Post break, Joe Coffey sings about his win and promises to take the title back to Gallus.

Amale vs. Nina Samuels

The fans seem to be behind Nina as Amale rolls her up for an early two. A dropkick into the corner keeps Samuels in trouble but she’s right back with a cheap shot as the referee separates them. We hit the chinlock with a knee in Amale’s back, followed by a backbreaker for two. Nina doesn’t seem to be a fan of Amale’s face as she fishhooks the jaws, only to miss a charge into the ropes. Amale slugs away and the comeback is on, with Amale hitting some clotheslines. The fans get behind Amale for a change as she hits a running boot in the corner. The Hopebreaker finishes for Amale at 6:31.

Rating: C. Amale continues to kind of meander but Samuels is the one who is there to put over just about anyone else. The fans continue to get behind Amale but if she isn’t going to get close to the title, there isn’t much for her to do. She has the charisma to make it work, but she feels like she has been on a treadmill for months now.

Oliver Carter leaves the trainer’s room and runs into Trent Seven, who thinks Carter should just forfeit their semifinal match. That won’t happen, so Seven promises to break Carter’s leg.

Ilja Dragunov loves the tournament but promises to come for the winner.

Chase U vs. Eddie Dennis/Saxon Huxley

Thea Hail is here with Chase U. Chase and Dennis trade wristlocks to start with Chase getting the better of things. Dennis gets knocked down to set up the spelling stomps and it’s off to Hayward. Some quick wrist cranking means it’s already time to go back to Chase, with Hayward barely being legal for fifteen seconds. Huxley comes in as well and accidentally ax handles Dennis’ arm, earning Huxley a shove into a rollup.

That doesn’t mean much as he runs Chase over and drops an elbow for two. Chase is sent into the corner for a clothesline from behind, only to get in a knockdown of his own. The double tag brings in Hayward and Dennis with the former taking over. Hold on though as Huxley comes back in, which doesn’t sit well with Dennis. That means it’s already back to Dennis, who gets backdropped for talking too long. The Fratliner finishes Dennis at 6:43.

Rating: C. One day, Chase U is going to go for some titles and the fans are going to be behind them so hard that it is going to be a sight to behold. The team works so well and they have put something together that is working far better than it should have. Hopefully they get the chance to move up a bit, because it could be a lot of fun.

Post match Dennis yells at Huxley, who chokebombs him and poses with Chase U.

Video on Mark Coffey vs. Noam Dar for the Heritage Cup Part II. They do a nice job of making a midcard title match including Noam Dar feel like a major deal.

United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round: Kenny Williams vs. Tyler Bate

Bate takes him down by the arm to start and then spins around a bit, setting up a quick rollup for two. The threat of Bop and Bang has Williams backing up before he goes with a test of strength. Williams actually takes him down but can’t break Bate’s rather awesome bridge. They head outside with Bate grabbing the airplane spin, only to miss a charge into the post.

Back in and Williams hits some headbutts to the ribs (that’s a weird way to go) but punches the mat in a failed attempt to block a sunset flip. A snap suplex gives Williams two and leaves him frustrated at the count. Some shots to the head set up a neck crank (with Williams almost sitting on his neck at the same time), only to get reversed into an electric chair.

Bate suplexes him out of the corner and nips up, setting up the running shooting star press for two. Back up and bate can’t get the airplane spin, but manages on the second attempt before spinning Williams right back the other way (that’s still clever). Bate is too dizzy to follow up though so Williams is able to get back up and kick him in the knee.

Bop and Bang is broken up again but Bate knocks him outside for the big dive. The fans are WAY behind Bate as he muscles Williams up into a bridging German suplex for two. The Tyler Driver 97 is countered but so is Bad Luck, leaving Williams to roll him up for two, even with feet on the ropes. Williams goes up but dives into an overhead German suplex. The Rebound lariat sets up the Tyler Driver 97 for the pin at 13:20.

Rating: B-. This is the kind of thing that makes Bate shine as he survived against Williams, who was just the right level of threat to give Bate a run for his money. Good main event here, as I think you can see the finals coming from here for Bate, though the match with Coffey should be good. Williams is a fine heel, but he was in over his head here.

Overall Rating: C+. It’s such a weird way to go with this show in its final weeks, as there is no reason to get invested in a lot of this stuff. Even if you knew the show was ending and the tournament was all you had left, there isn’t even any drama about who is winning the title. I still don’t get why WWE is going this way, but at least it is only going to last for a few more weeks before we get to the big finale. For now though, another pretty good show, which is right in NXT’s ballpark.

Results
Joe Coffey b. Mark Andrews – All The Best For The Bells
Amale b. Nina Samuels – Hopebreaker
Chase U b. Eddie Dennis/Saxon Huxley – Fratliner to Dennis
Tyler Bate b. Kenny Williams – Tyler Driver 97

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NXT UK
Date: August 11, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studio, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

We’re in a new world around here as the United Kingdom Title is vacant and that means it is time for a tournament to crown a new one. Other than that, we have the usual issues to deal with, likely meaning an NXT guest star and some stuff in the pretty decent women’s division. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We recap Ilja Dragunov getting injured and the need for a title tournament.

United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round: Oliver Carter vs. Charlie Dempsey

The rest of Die Familie is here with Dempsey and Carter is coming in with a banged up knee. Both of them get inset promos promising to win. Carter isn’t having any of this Die Familie posing before the bell and jumps Dempsey to start fast. A clothesline puts Dempsey on the floor and there’s the slingshot dive, with the knee holding up well enough. Back in and Dempsey sends him hard into the corner so the leg hits the ropes.

Dempsey takes him down by the leg for some rather painful looking cranking. Carter fights up and tries a springboard, only to hurt his leg again. Of course Dempsey is fine with going after an injured limb, setting up a northern lights suplex for two. Carter kicks out of a kneebar attempt so Dempsey ties up the leg again and fires off some forearms to the chest.

A leg trap dragon suplex gets two on Carter but that’s escaped as well. Some forearms stagger Dempsey to start Carter’s comeback but his knee gives out again. A Rock Bottom gives Carter two so he tries the superkick, only to have his knee fail one more time. Another dragon screw legwhip sets up a half crab….which Carter reverses into a cradle for the pin at 9:11.

Rating: C+. Carter has come a long way and it is nice to see him getting a chance like this. He has no chance of winning the title but he got a win here and gets to keep going for one more match. It’s also weird seeing Dempsey get pinned, but he is the kind of guy who is going to be able to have a spot for as long as he wants as there is always room for a technical star.

After last week’s #1 contenders main event ended in a mess, Blair Davenport, Eliza Alexander, Amale and Isla Dawn had to be separated.

Tyler Bate is ready to be United Kingdom Champion again.

Eliza Alexander vs. Thea Hail

Alexander fires off forearms to start but gets flipped into the corner for her efforts. Back up and Hail hits a quick dropkick but gets sent hard into the corner. There’s a hair toss to start working on the hair and a camel clutch to work on Hail’s…..camels? Hail powers up and hits an enziguri but a standing moonsault hits raised knees. Alexander hits a running kick to the face for the pin at 4:14.

Rating: C-. Hail has a lot of energy and her charisma in the Chase U segments are great, but the matches aren’t quite clicking yet. It’s also a little weird to see her lose here when she’s treated as something of a project, especially to Xia Brookside’s enforcer. Not much of a match, with something of an odd result.

Amale is immediately interrupted by Nina Samuels, who calls Amale no hope to the French whatsoever. Amale rants in French before switching to English to say she’ll go through anyone to become champion, including Samuels.

Andre Chase finishes explaining why we don’t have a U in the word “color” but Eddie Dennis comes in to besmirch this university. Chase: “WHO THE F*** DO YOU THINK YOU ARE???” This is a TEACHABLE MOMENT and somehow Dennis gets a match with….Saxton Huxley? Dennis vs. Chase is as obvious of a path as you can get around here.

Teoman vs. Sam Gradwell

Rohan Raja is here with Teoman. Gradwell grinds away on a headlock to start but Teoman is back with a slap to the face. This goes as well as expected as Gradwell punches him in the face a few times, followed by a clothesline out to the floor. A Raja distraction lets Teoman sweep the leg on the apron though and we hit the chinlock back inside.

Gradwell powers up and tosses him away, with Teoman coming up holding his ankle. Even Gradwell doesn’t buy this but Raja grabs him from behind for a neck snap across the top. Teoman’s sliding forearm gets two so Gradwell fights up and slugs away. Raja gets caught pulling Gradwell off the ropes though and that’s an ejection. The distraction lets Gradwell hit a Samoan driver for the pin at 5:45.

Rating: C. Commentary was putting over how far Gradwell has come and that is absolutely right. He has gone from little more than another person without much of a personality to being the one who stands up to evildoers. That is the kind of spot that could serve him well as he is intense enough to make it work, which is exactly what he is doing.

Mark Coffey is in Sid Scala’s office when Noam Dar comes in, saying they need to talk. Dar wants a rematch and that’s fine with Coffey, who tells Scala to make a rubber match. Scala will get on that.

United Kingdom Title Tournament First Round: Wolfgang vs. Trent Seven

They take their time to start until Wolfgang shoulders him down. An armdrag into an armbar has Seven in more trouble, followed by some shoulders driven into his shoulders. Wolfgang runs him over again and they head outside with Seven being whipped into the barricade. Seven cuts off a dive from the barricade though and the beating is on back inside.

We hit the chinlock with a knee in Wolfgang’s back until he powers up, only to have his ribs give out. The ribs are fine enough for a release German suplex, setting up a basement shoulder for a double breather. A suplex into a cutter gives Wolfgang two and a fireman’s carry gutbuster gets the same. Wolfgang knocks him off the top but the Howling only hits raised knees. The Birminghammer finishes for Seven at 8:56.

Rating: C+. Nice stuff here, as Seven gets a win to continue his run. He isn’t likely to win the title either but he is in a better spot than Wolfgang, who just lost his title shot. The match was good enough too, with Wolfgang getting to dominate until Seven caught him in the end.

Overall Rating: C+. The good thing about having a tournament is that you can have a good idea of how long it is going to run. Odds are this one is going to last for probably a month, which should give us some nice action and drama. Other than that, we had the usual nice show with a bit of everything mixed in. In other words, it was your run of the mill NXT UK.

Results
Oliver Carter b. Charlie Dempsey – Rollup
Eliza Alexander b. Thea Hail – Running kick to the face
Sam Gradwell b. Teoman – Samoan driver
Trent Seven b. Wolfgang – Birminghammer

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NXT UK
Date: July 21, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

We’re coming off of a title change last week as Mark Coffey FINALLY took the Heritage Cup from Noam Dar, ending his record reign. After the match, Joe Coffey made his return to celebrate with his brother as things seem to be going well for Gallus for a change. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Mark Coffey’s win last week.

Opening sequence.

Isla Dawn vs. Fallon Henley

Henley forearms away to start and hits an elbow to the face before armdragging her into the ropes. That means a forearm to the face but Dawn sends her into the corner to take over. A running kick to the chest gives Dawn two and we hit the cross arm choke. Henley fights up and drives her into the corner for the break, only to get kicked in the head. Dawn hits a half nelson slam for the pin at 5:13.

Rating: C-. I continue to have no idea what is going on with the bottom half of the women’s division as Dawn gets a win after seemingly not winning anything for the better part of ever. At the same time, you would think that Henley would be one of the more protected stars from NXT, though it does at least give Dawn a win with some value. That isn’t likely to go anywhere, but at least she got something.

Sarray is happy to be here but stops to ask Meiko Satomura for a match. Satomura is down for a change, but tells Sarray to be prepared.

We look back at Amale beating Stevie Turner but not impressing Blair Davenport.

Amale goes to find Blair Davenport and says she’s keeping her anger for whenever they get in the ring.

Josh Morrell vs. Dave Mastiff

Morrell has both shoulders taped up. Mastiff grabs a headlock to start and takes it to the mat, where Morrell hand walks his way to freedom. A wristlock has about the same luck as Morrell spins out, leaving Mastiff frustrated. Instead of the holds Mastiff tries the power, with a hard shoulder and belly to back suplex to drop Morrell for the first time. The slow pounding begins, with Mastiff forearming him down and putting on the nerve hold.

Back up and an overhead belly to belly sends Morrell flying for two in a good looking crash. Morrell can’t get a sunset flip but he can hit a dropkick, setting up a corkscrew moonsault for two. Another dropkick puts Mastiff on the floor, setting up a big running flip dive. Back in and Mastiff snaps off a powerbomb into a Regal Roll for two. Another Regal Roll sets up a backsplash to finish Morrell at 7:01.

Rating: C. So you have Morrell get a win a few weeks ago and then he gets beaten down here in a near squash. I’m not sure what the logic is there, as Morrell seems to have something that might be worth giving a small shot. Mastiff winning is fine enough, but why have Morrell lose after building him up recently?

Respect is shown post match.

Sha Samuels and Noam Dar are having some trouble paying off the gambling debts from last week’s Heritage Cup loss. They can’t even afford a paper or booze so Dar leaves. Two hours later, Johnny Saint showed up to get his money, sending Dar running off.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen are fired up to be champions and they’re down for a title defense against Wild Boar/Mark Andrews.

Nina Samuels vs. Emilia McKenzie

They fight over a lockup to start until McKenzie gets up the ropes for a quick hurricanrana. Samuels gets taken into the corner for some kicks to the leg but sends McKenzie face first into the ropes. A dropkick to the back puts McKenzie in trouble and she gets tossed around the ring without much trouble.

The comeback is cut off with a forearm to the face for a delayed two before Samuels puts her on top. That’s fine with McKenzie, who pounds her down for a crash outside. Back in and a faceplant drops Samuels for two but McKenzie misses a charge into the corner to give Samuels two of her own. That doesn’t seem to matter as McKenzie hits a spear for the pin at 4:57.

Rating: C. They’re building to something with McKenzie, as she isn’t happy with Meiko Satomura paying more attention to Sarray. A win here gives her a bit of momentum and it wouldn’t shock me to see her get involved in the upcoming Sarray vs. Satomura match. That’s a way to go, as McKenzie is certainly talented enough to go somewhere if given a chance.

We get a face to face showdown between Ilja Dragunov and Wolfgang before Dragunov’s United Kingdom Title defense next week. Wolfgang has wanted to be champion since 2017 and wants to take it from Dragunov. That’s cool with Dragunov, who says Wolfgang is the kind of person who helped him get to the title in the first place.

Wolfgang wants to win the title, but Dragunov talks about Wolfgang being stuck in the shadow of Gallus. Next week, Dragunov wants to fight Wolfgang one on one, not a member of Gallus. Wolfgang is ready to do Dragunov a favor by taking the champion’s burden away, but Dragunov doesn’t think so. Simple and to the point here, but it’s a little hard to buy Wolfgang as a major threat to Dragunov.

Trent Seven vs. Sam Gradwell

Seven is sent outside with Gradwell hitting a suicide dive eleven seconds in. Gradwell knocks him around ringside before pulling Seven off the apron to keep him in trouble. They get up to the apron, with Seven nailing a hard lariat to drop Gradwell for a needed breather. Back in and a suplex drops Gradwell, allowing Seven to kick away at the chest. That just wakes Gradwell up so he fires off forearms to the face and a belly to belly suplex for a bonus.

A running clothesline puts Seven on the floor again but he’s right back in for a hard suicide dive to knock Gradwell into the barricade. Back in and Gradwell catches him on top for a top rope butterfly suplex (and a heck of a crash). That’s enough for Seven to run, which is enough of a ruse to let Seven send Gradwell knee first into the steps. They get back in and it’s time to stay on Gradwell’s knee, with the brace being ripped off.

Something close to a Figure Four has the knee in trouble, though Gradwell turns it over, with Seven getting straight to the rope. Gradwell hits a hard clothesline for two but Seven goes right back to the knee. The Seven Star Lariat gets two so Seven grabs the knee brace. A big swing misses, so Gradwell drops him with a discus forearm. Gradwell picks up the brace but gets it taken away, allowing Seven to kick him low (because he’s a modern heel). Another Seven Star Lariat finishes Gradwell at 11:02.

Rating: C+. This was the same problem that Seven has had since his heel turn: he’s only so good/interesting in the ring and his way out of trouble is a low blow. Other than the eventual match with Tyler Bate, I’m not sure how interesting he is going to be. As long as he isn’t pushed as the next top heel or even a huge deal, it should work out, but I don’t know what kind of legs he has in this role after the Bate showdown.

Post match Seven loads up another low blow but Tyler Bate returns and chases him off to end the show (with Seven giving a great “I’ve just seen a ghost” face).

Overall Rating: C-. Not their best effort of a show, as you can feel the energy draining out. Maybe things can get a bit better with a fresh taping cycle, but Dragunov vs. Wolfgang isn’t exactly a top feud. I don’t know if Seven vs. Bate is the big solution, but things have not been the most thrilling around here as of late. At least the NXT invasion seems to have gone away, though it isn’t like things are great again. This wasn’t a very interesting show and that needs to change in the coming weeks.

Results
Isla Dawn b. Fallon Henley – Half nelson slam
Dave Mastiff b. Josh Morrell – Backsplash
Emilia McKenzie b. Nina Samuels – Spear
Trent Seven b. Sam Gradwell – Seven Star Lariat

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NXT UK
Date: June 23, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

Things have gotten a little more interesting around here as Trent Seven has gone full evil and it should set up a heck of a personal feud with Tyler Bate. Other than that, Kenny Williams is still trying to figure out what is up with Tiger Turan and Ilja Dragunov needs something to do. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Moustache Mountain losing the Tag Team Titles and the official split last week.

Opening sequence.

Here are Ashton Smith and Oliver Carter to get things going, with Smith having his knee heavily braced and showing a limp. Smith talks about how he was going nowhere until Carter became his partner. Now he is a champion in WWE because they are the NXT UK Tag Team Champions. However, that makes what he is about to say next all the harder: he has ruptured his MCL and the titles have to be vacated due to his injury.

Smith apologizes to Carter, who says Smith didn’t let him down. Carter says he’s always there for Smith, who tells Carter to make a go of it while he’s out of action. Sid Scala comes out to accept the vacated titles, but does announce Smith and Carter as the champions one more time. Smith and Carter leave so here is Die Familie to interrupt. Those titles should be theirs but here are Josh Briggs/Brooks Jensen, Jack Stars/Dave Mastiff and Mark Andrews/Wild boar to interrupt. No one says anything, but Scala makes a four way elimination match for the titles in tonight’s main event.

Sarray comes in to see Meiko Satomura and pays some respect. With Sarray gone, Meiko tells Emilia McKenzie that she gets to face Fallon Henley next week. Meiko wants some fighting spirit.

Sha Samuels isn’t happy with Sid Scala but Wolfgang interrupts and a match is teased.

Myla Grace vs. Isla Dawn

Grace takes her to the mat to start and spins around a lot, setting up the basement dropkick to the side of the head. Dawn isn’t having that though and kicks her down, setting up the chinlock. Grace fights up and strikes away before a tornado DDT gets two. A middle rope dive misses though and Dawn kicks her in the head. The half nelson slam finishes for Dawn at 5:05.

Rating: C. Not much to this one but Grace is someone who has been around a few times now and isn’t too bad. The division can always use some fresh blood and that is what we might be seeing here. She wasn’t squashed here but there is no shame in losing to someone who has been around as long as Dawn.

Tyler Bate has taken a leave of absence after Trent Seven attacked him last week.

Kenny Williams is still obsessed with Tiger Turan.

Noam Dar comes in to see Sid Scala and thinks he is going to have to retire as Heritage Cup Champion. Or maybe he’ll have one more match, for some money money.

Nina Samuels vs. Sarray

Sarray grabs the leg to start and the threat of a half crab sends Samuels over to the rope. Back up and Samuels cranks on the wrist until Sarray sends her into the corner. Samuels knocks her down though and ribs at the face in the ropes. That’s broken up and Sarray dropkicks the knee out before knocking her off the top. The running dropkick against the ropes sets up a high collar suplex to finish Samuels at 5:35.

Rating: C. I get the idea of Sarray, but the transforming thing is just a weird deal that doesn’t add anything and is weird throughout. I’m not sure what the point of the thing is other than to give Sarray something, but it isn’t exactly working. Samuels continues to be the person with a gimmick who you can put out there for loss after loss and not have her drop very far. That’s a good thing to have and NXT UK seems to know it.

Blair Davenport is back next week.

Xia Brookside and Eliza Alexander mock Sarray but Meiko Satomura comes in to scare them off.

Tag Team Titles: Brooks Jensen/Josh Briggs vs. Jack Starz/Dave Mastiff vs. Wild Boar/Mark Andrews vs. Die Familie

Elimination match for the vacant titles with Charlie Dempsey in Die Familie’s corner. Starz and Andrews flip around to start so it’s Raja coming in, only to get sent into the corner by Boar. Jensen comes in to powerslam Boar so Teoman tags himself in and hammers away. A clothesline out of the corner gets Boar out of trouble and Mastiff brings himself in to start wrecking people.

Starz and Mastiff start double teaming Teoman, with Starz grabbing a chinlock. Mastiff comes back in and glares Teoman off, meaning Briggs comes in for the monster staredown. They knock everyone else off the apron first though and then clothesline each other down for a bit of a twist. Everything breaks down and Briggs chokeslams Teoman onto the pile at ringside.

Andrews adds the big dive before throwing Teoman back in to get beaten up as well. A running dropkick/German suplex combination sends Teoman into the corner for the tag off to Starz, who gets blasted by Boar’s lariat. Fall To Pieces hits Stars but Mastiff makes a save, allowing Starz to cradle Andrews for the elimination at 9:36.

Starz is banged up and the referee checks on him, only to have Teoman kick him in the bad knee. A dropkick out of the corner gives Starz a breather though and it’s Jensen coming in to fight Mastiff. That works for Mastiff, who crossbodies him down but a distraction lets Raja hit a jumping Downward Spiral to finish Mastiff at 12:15.

So we’re down to Die Familie vs. Briggs/Jensen for the titles with Jensen getting enziguried into a spinebuster for two. A belly to back suplex gets Jensen out of trouble and the hot tag brings in Briggs to really clean house. Dempsey’s distraction lets Teoman hit a Backstabber for two with Jensen making a save. Teoman stomps on Briggs’ back a few times, setting up a crossface. That’s broken up with a rollup and the second hot tag brings in Jensen to clean house. Teoman and Dempsey get kicked off the apron and it’s a high/low to give Briggs the pin and the titles at 18:16.

Rating: B-. The match was long and felt like a big deal, which is one of the best things that can be aid here. What matters here is that Briggs and Jensen won the titles, which may or may not be a good thing. It felt like a cool moment as the team finally wins something, but at the same time it is a bit much to have the Americans come over and win the titles over three NXT UK teams. Die Familie winning here might not have been as fun of a moment, but it would have made more sense.

Fallon Henley comes in to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The main event was the big deal as NXT UK had to do something big to take care of a bad situation. That was accomplished, though the rest of the show wasn’t exactly great. What matters here is that they got the important part right, which is often a lot harder than it seems. Good enough show here, though the creeping factor of the lower NXT card coming over to NXT UK isn’t a positive sign.

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NXT UK
Date: May 12, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Andy Shepherd, Nigel McGuinness

It’s a big time show this week as we have the 200th episode (though that doesn’t seem to be the case if you actually count them up). Counting issues aside, we have a big main event as United Kingdom Champion Ilja Dragunov is defending against Jordan Devlin in a title match that is also Loser Leaves Town. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening video looks at the title match.

Opening sequence.

Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter vs. Gallus

The winners move on to a triple threat Tag Team Title match and it’s the Coffey brothers for Gallus. Mark powers Carter to the mat to start and it’s quickly off to Joe for a chop as commentary talks about Joe never winning anything. Carter sends Mark into the corner with a headscissors and starts in on the arm, with Smith coming in to do the same. That doesn’t work for Mark, who runs Carter over and hands it back to Joe….who is quickly knocked to the floor.

We settle back down to Joe hammering on Smith, setting up an overhead belly to belly. Joe seems to tweak his knee on a leapfrog though, allowing Carter to come back in with a slingshot shoulder. An assisted 450 gives Smith two but a Silly String moonsault hits raised knees. Joe gets in another suplex and the hot tag brings in Mark to clean house. Mark hits a middle rope bulldog for two on Carter and a belly to back drops Smith. Joe comes back in with a high/low for two, leaving Mark to dive onto Carter. A missed springboard bangs up Joe’s knee again and another assisted moonsault gives Carter the pin on Joe at 10:24.

Rating: C+. They kept things moving here but Smith and Carter winning was the only thing that makes sense. The two of them have seemed primed to get the titles for awhile now and Gallus’ losing streak gets to continue. I’m not sure where that is going but things are continuing to go badly, which makes things interesting.

Post match, Gallus isn’t happy.

A-Kid has gotten his match with Charlie Dempsey to be held under Heritage Cup rules.

Video on NXT UK over the years and how some of them have gone on to main roster success. They’ve had some good stuff.

Lash Legend cuts off Emilia McKenzie’s interview but doesn’t have time for McKenzie getting annoyed at her.

Nina Samuels vs. Ivy Nile

Samuels offers a quick pose off, which is kind of stupid when Nile’s biceps are bigger than Samuels’ head. Nile takes her to the mat for a headscissors, complete with pushups. Samuels goes to the ropes for a needed breather before snapping Nile’s throat across the top. That lets Samuels get in her own pushups, followed by the double fish hook. Nile fights up with the kicks to various parts of Samuels and a running dropkick in the corner gets two. A slap to the face rocks Nile on the ropes but she’s right back with the dragon sleeper for the win at 4:43.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t much but it is nice to see Nile getting a win over a more established name. Nile seems ready to move up to the title picture soon as it isn’t like there is much more for her to do otherwise. Samuels is pretty firmly established in her spot and the Nina Samuels Show stuff can get her right back after another loss.

Damon Kemp doesn’t think much of Sha Samuels jumping him last week.

Dave Mastiff and Jack Starz mock one of Die Familie’s meetings, including a cardboard cutout of Charlie Dempsey’s head. A beating is promised.

Joe Coffey says he’s going to take some time away by himsel.f

Wild Boar blames Eddie Dennis for his troubles last year and now he wants revenge.

Kenny Williams continues to go insane and still believes that Tiger Turan is behind everything. He even has a wall covered in papers as all sane people do.

United Kingdom Title: Jordan Devlin vs. Ilja Dragunov

Dragunov is defending and this is Loser Leaves NXT UK. Devlin gets taken to the mat to start, with Dragunov working on a headlock. The comeback attempt just earns him another headlock before it’s time to go with the slugout. Devlin catches him on top with a shot to the face and it’s a brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle for a nice tribute to El Generico.

Back in and Dragunov can barely stand so Devlin kicks him in the ribs for two. A running legdrop just wakes Dragunov up but Devlin knocks him into the corner. One heck of a clothesline drops Dragunov and we hit the half crab, complete with some stomps to the head. That’s broken up though and Dragunov starts firing off elbows, with commentary saying Dragunov is more volatile than Bitcoin.

Back to back German suplexes drop Devlin again but he’s able to crotch Dragunov on top. A moonsault out to the floor drops Dragunov and a reverse cutter gets two back inside. Dragunov catches him on top with a superplex, setting up a hard forearm to the face for two. Torpedo Moscow only hits buckle though, allowing Devlin to hit the Devlin Side for the pin (with Dragunov’s foot in the ropes).

Devlin celebrates but here is Johnny Saint to say restart things. Another Torpedo Moscow is countered into a Canadian Destroyer (that was sweet) and a brainbuster gets two. Dragunov is back up with a German suplex and the Torpedo Moscow retains the title/gets rid of Devlin at 16:12.

Rating: B. Dragunov continues his reign in another good match, though some of his kickouts do get to be a bit much. There come points where he feels indestructible and that can be hard to take at times. Other than that, Devlin leaving could be interesting, as he could be on his way to regular NXT or out altogether, or he might be back under some shenanigans. Either way, I’m curious to see what is next for both of them, as Dragunov is in need of a new challenger and no one seems to be ready for him.

Dragunov celebrates and Devlin is crushed to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a much better show than the last few, as there is only so much you can get out of a show focused on the lower level NXT stars. Instead, this show was about the United Kingdom Title with a big time main event. That is what the show has been needing, though I have a bad feeling that this is a one off rather than a shift back to what made the show work over (most of) the last 200 weeks.

Results
Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter b. Gallus – Assisted moonsault to Joe
Ivy Nile b. Nina Samuels – Dragon sleeper
Ilja Dragunov b. Jordan Devlin – Torpedo Moscow

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NXT UK
Date: May 5, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

We’re back to the title picture this week with Meiko Satomura defending the Women’s Title against Isla Dawn in a World of Darkness match. I’m not sure what that means but NXT UK has enough of a track record that I can believe they’ll pull it off. On top of that, we get more of the build towards next week’s 200th show. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Lash Legend arrived earlier today and conscripted Emilia McKenzie to take care of her bag.

Opening sequence.

It’s time for Supernova Sessions, this time in the ring. Noam Dar says this is the first edition of Supernova Sessions 2.0, which makes me scared for this place’s future. This week’s guest is international superstar Lash Legend and, after taking some time to get her seated, Dar gives her something resembling a plant. Hold on though, as Samuel Sha brings in a much nicer bouquet, which she puts in the Heritage Cup.

Legend rhymes about how awesome she is and talks about being here to run through the competition. Dar has his another present for her in the form of a Lash video package, which Legend certainly likes. Then Dar tries to open a water but it seems to be soda and sprays all over him. With Dar dealing with that, Samuels looks at the odds for the incoming NXT exchange students having success around here, though he isn’t sure who Damon Kemp is.

Legend talks about how her physical abilities are like some animals and promises to leave everything else for the vultures. Now play the funky music. This was pretty terrible and one of the worst things I can remember on NXT UK in a long time. Granted that might be due to it being about Lash Legend and nothing actually happening.

Sid Scala talks about finding challenges for the Tag Team Titles, with a triple threat title match coming up. Von Wagner comes in to shake Scala, but Sam Gradwell says he’s here to do that. A match seems likely.

In the back, Damon Kemp comes up to Sha Samuels and Lash Legend. That’s enough to get Legend to leave so Kemp can complain about being a 400/1 underdog on Samuels’ odds.

Tiger Turan vs. Tate Mayfairs

Turan is a masked guy and kind of skinny. Mayfairs’ wristlock is flipped away to start and Turan cartwheels over him, setting up a butterfly suplex. A high crossbody gives Turan two but Mayfairs pulls him out of the corner for a crash to take over. That doesn’t last long as Turan chops him down a few times and scores with a middle rope dropkick. Turan hits a Swanton for the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C. Turan is fairly small but he was good enough to look decent in there. I don’t know how much of a future he’ll have around here as this place seems to be the new NXT dumping ground but when has that stopped NXT UK from getting something out of someone before? Not much of a match but I can always go for a masked man.

Gallus runs into Oliver Carter/Ashton Smith and they both seem to want the Tag Team Titles. They’ll meet next week in one of the #1 contenders matches.

Video on some of the NXT UK stars who have moved on to become NXT/main roster stars.

Video on Ivy Nile.

Nina Samuels doesn’t like Nile stealing her spotlight and she’ll do something about it next week.

Danny Jones vs. Damon Kemp

Kemp wrestles him down to start but Jones slips out in a bit of a surprise. Jones grabs the arm but is quickly reversed into a gutwrench suplex. A clothesline drops Kemp and the neck crank is on, only to have Kemp come up with some overhead belly to belly suplexes. Kemp hits a Regal Roll, setting up a running powerslam to finish Jones at 4:26.

Rating: C. Kemp continues to impress but I think you can get the idea of what the new NXT UK, or at least this taping cycle of it, is going to be about. Kemp made short work of someone who has had some nice appearances around here before and that is probably going to be the case for more than one NXT UK regular. I get that NXT UK is the minor league, but making them practice dummies is a bit hard to swallow.

Post match Sha Samuels runs in to beat Kemp down.

Tiger Turan is celebrating his win but here is Kenny Williams with wanted posters, apparently thinking that Turan attacked him last week.

Die Familie is on their roof and talk about their upcoming matches, with Charlie Dempsey facing A-Kid and Teoman/Rohan Raja wanting the Tag Team Titles.

Video on Jordan Devlin vs. Ilja Dragunov for the United Kingdom Title next week. Devlin talks about his dad telling him to be whatever he wanted, but to be the best. They had their first match but it wasn’t quite how Devlin wanted it. Now it’s time for the title match, but also Loser Leaves Town to make it more interesting.

Women’s Title: Isla Dawn vs. Meiko Satomura

Satomura is defending in a World of Darkness match, which means a street fight with the lights dimmed. We get the Big Match Intros, but this time Satomura jumps her before the bell to start fast. Dawn kicks her out of the air to little avail as Satomura kicks her to the floor. The apron kicks are blocked though and Dawn busts out a broom. Some shots with said broom have Satomura in trouble so Dawn kneels to make some thunder and lighting go off.

Back in and it’s time to open up Dawn’s box of trinkets and pull out Dani Luna’s hair. The hair is wrapped around Satomura’s eyes but she fights up, steps on the box, and starts kicking away. A spinwheel kick gives Satomura two but Dawn catches her on top with some chair shots. The backdrop driver onto the chairs is broken up though and Satomura kicks her out to the floor.

That works for Dawn, who whips out a rope/cord and ties Satomura to the post. Some whips have Satomura in trouble until she kicks her way to freedom. Dawn misses a dropkick into the steps, allowing Satomura to get in a kendo stick shot back inside. The cartwheel knees to the back let Satomura swing the stick again but Dawn is back with a Tarantula. The top rope rope Meteora onto the chair gives Dawn a delayed two (thanks to her banged up knees) and it’s time to set up some chairs. Dawn can’t suplex her through the chairs and it’s Scorpio Rising to retain the title at 12:49.

Rating: C-. The lights were darker? That’s really all they had for this? That might be the lamest gimmick I have seen in years as it felt like something Russo would have done. All they did was a weapons match with the lights dimmed down and I’m supposed to find that more interesting? That’s a bad sign coming after a pretty lame show and that’s a rather bad sign.

Satomura celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. Please don’t let this be how NXT UK is going to go. Please. It’s the one consistently very good show that they have. While it is one thing to send someone over to another show to let them have some more time, this show felt like the NXT dumping ground with a BIG focus on the lower level NXT stars, plus a really lame main event. NXT already has two shows. I know these people need to be in the ring, but can they just get back on the Coconut Loop again instead of taking away one of the few shows that I like week in and week out? Please?

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NXT UK
Date: March 17, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

We have a guest start this week as Roderick Strong is coming over from NXT. That isn’t something that happens very often and I’m curious to see where it leaves. It very well may be a one off match, but it’s a little weird to see WWE suddenly caring about this show after years of indifference. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

In Memory Of Scott Hall.

Opening sequence.

Oliver Carter vs. Tyler Bate

Ashton Smith and Trent Seven are here too. Bate works on a wristlock to start but Carter slips out and grabs one of his own. They go to a quick pinfall reversal sequence and it’s off to an early standoff. Carter takes him down with an armbar and then does it again to show off. Back up and Bate hits a running dropkick out to the floor for a crash.

Bate starts in on the ribs but gets taken down by a quick crossbody. That doesn’t see to bother Bate, as he is right back with the airplane spin into a gutbuster for two. An abdominal stretch with an elbow in the ribs has Carter in trouble and Bate turns it into an octopus to make it worse.

Carter falls down for the escape so Bate small packages him for two. A half nelson backbreaker gives Carter two of his own and they trade strikes to the head. The Tyler Driver 97 is countered into a hurricanrana for a VERY close two and the seconds get in a fight on the floor. The distraction is enough for Carter to backslide bate for the huge upset at 10:11.

Rating: B-. Now that is an upset and they actually surprised me with the clean (enough) finish. Beating Bate means a lot more than beating Seven so this is the way to go if you want to make Carter and Smith feel like a threat. If nothing else, Seven has been paranoid about keeping the titles and the loss might have Bate doing the same, which could get interesting.

A-Kid asks a raving Saxon Huxley to be his tag partner against Die Familie and gets a shouting yes.

Wild Boar looks at a mask and says he blames Eddie Dennis for everything that happened to him last year. Vengeance is sworn.

Nina Samuels vs. Emilia McKenzie

Samuels slips out of a headlock to start and they trade wristlocks. Some armdrags put Samuels down and McKenzie goes up for a middle rope hurricanrana. A slam cuts McKenzie off though and things slow down. Samuels kicks her into the corner to set up the chinlock, which is broken up as per expected.

McKenzie hits some clotheslines and a belly to back suplex and Samuels is sent outside. That means a big suicide dive to knock Samuels into the barricade for the crash and they’re right back in. McKenzie goes up but gets pulled off the top (by the hair, to make it even worse) for two and Samuels is frustrated. Samuels misses a moonsault though and McKenzie hits a quick spear for the pin at 9:43.

Rating: C+. McKenzie continues to be good for some nice performances and beating Samuels is a solid win for her. I don’t know if she goes anywhere with Meiko Satomura as champion but building for the future is a wise move. Samuels continues to be herself: a character that is easy to dislike who has been in the same place on the card for years now.

Mark Coffey leaves Sid Scala’s office and has gotten himself a Heritage Cup Title shot. Joe Coffey seems happy for him.

Someone, possibly Sam Gradwell, has left Kenny Williams a note saying he has made a lot of enemies. Williams isn’t too worried, but does seem a bit nervous when someone shuts the locker behind him.

Symbiosis comes in to see Sid Scala, as Wild Boar wants a match with Eddie Dennis. That’s not going to work for Dennis, who suggests Primate instead and then leaves before Scala can make a decision. Scala has to make a call as I try to get my mind around the idea of someone named Wild Boar making a formal request.

Aleah James vs. Stevie Turner

They fight over wrist control to start until Turner shoulders her down and glares a lot. A running headscissors gives James two but Turner hits a boot to the head. Another running kick to the head and a forearm get two more and we hit the chinlock with a knee in James’ back. James finally fights back but a Side Effect gives Turner two more. Back up and James grabs an O’Connor roll and bridges back for the pin at 4:11 for the clean pin.

Rating: C. I’m still not sure what they’re doing with Turner, who seems like she should be a bigger deal than she is and just never gets there. James is hardly a star and she beat Turner clean without as much as a fluke mishap. Maybe James is on her way up, but Turner seems to be falling lower and lower with every match.

Sha Samuels is now taking bets on Mark Coffey vs. Noam Dar. Someone calls in and Coffey takes a bet on Coffey…..at nearly 1700-1. Oh this isn’t going to end well.

Video on Meiko Satomura vs. Isla Dawn, who meet for Satomura’s Women’s Title next week. Dawn looking more and more insane makes her feel extra evil.

Roderick Strong vs. Wolfgang

Strong gets a nice reaction and there are no seconds here. Wolfgang powers him to the apron to start so Strong goes for the leg. That just makes him have to bail back to the floor as they’re firmly in first gear to start. Back in again and Strong goes after the arm but gets reversed into a headlock. Wolfgang lifts him up by the arm but Strong gets it back to the mat and grabs a chinlock.

That’s broken up and Strong is sent outside, where Strong drops him onto the barricade. Strong takes it into the corner back inside and strikes away, only to stop to yell at some chanting fans. Wolfgang gets taken down into a reverse chinlock but fights up and drives in some shoulders to the back in the corner. A powerslam gives Wolfgang two and the Caber Toss sends Strong flying again. The spear only hits buckle though and Strong scores with a jumping knee for the pin at 9:51.

Rating: C. I wasn’t feeling this one as it wasn’t exactly a barn burner. Strong is a much bigger star and there wasn’t much drama, which left Wolfgang feeling like he was just there to take a fall. Odds are Strong has a big match before heading back stateside and that is a good use for someone who has more star power than most of the NXT UK roster.

Post match Strong, who is bleeding from the eye, challenges Ilja Dragunov to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The slightly disappointing Strong match aside, I had a good time with this show as the other matches were entertaining. It continues to be a positive sign that NXT UK can put on engaging shows without a lot of its top stars around. I’m curious as to why Strong was brought over though, as NXT UK has been almost completely isolated for the better part of ever and now, here’s a guest star. Just please don’t let the people with authority remember this show exists. I can’t take another loss.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

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